GPS On My Side
Inquiry about the contents of Gregory Warner's bag.
Hey there! Here I am, scribbling up this post from a cramped airplane en route from Kigali, Rwanda to Nairobi (fingers crossed we take off soon!). In solidarity with my close- quarters compadre, I opted for a tray-ful of photographs rather than one big one.
First off, the Belroy Wallet, fitting snugly into my bag and large enough for all those vital documents, like passports and backup visas. Plus, it has handy pockets for those on-the-go essentials, like antiseptic wipes and extra passport photos. Oh, and a built-in pen? Tingly feelings all around.
Next up, my notebooks. I rotate between a plain- Jane steno pad from a Kenya stationary store for interviews and a sleek MUJI notebook for post-interview scribbles.
The photo below showcases some essential gear:
- Mountainsmith bag. Purchased on a last-minute whim when I caught the flu and had to reschedule my flight to Nairobi. Lu Olkowski, a trusted companion, recommended this bag. Three years later, it's still with me through thick and thin. It's not perfect for my purposes, but it serves its purpose well enough.
- Emergen-C packets. Invaluable for those electrolyte-depleted moments in the field.
- Roll-on sunblock. Because who needs the hassle of a squirt bottle at airport check-in? Plus, it's convenient for those quick reapplications on-the-go.
- MagicJack. A VoIP phone that plugs into your USB jack. With a U.S. phone number that follows me everywhere and sends voicemails to my email, I'm never truly disconnected.
- USB battery pack. Picked up from trusty Amazon for emergencies and recharges.
- Zoom IQ6. Attaches to your iPhone, turning it into a Zoom recorder. This bad boy serves dual purposes as my backup and go-to in a pinch when recording press conferences.
- Toilet paper roll. Tucked away inside the bag, ready for those emergency moments when public toilets offer nothing but a hole.
- Etymotic in-ear headphones. Compact, unobtrusive, and easy to pack—perfect for those long hours spent in close quarters with your audio.
- Sound Devices 722. The mother of all recorders, recording to both compact flash card and internal hard drive for unmatched backup security. It boasts a bunch of weirdly useful features that you'll find yourself wanting when you least expect them. Case in point: "stealth" mode turns the recorder completely black, and it came in handy when reporting on Nairobi's first "Dinner In the Dark".
August 2017 Update:
Over the past year, I've been busy developing the Rough Translation podcast. While my traveling days are less frequent now, I've landed in a wider array of destinations. This has led me to adopt some new tools in my kit bag (or, more often, kick myself when I forget them). Podcasting is a collaboration-focused craft, after all.
Here are three invaluable items that have found a home in my trusty bag:
- BRCK. With 3G networks now spreading across the globe, expensive satellite phones seem less necessary. This extraordinary Kenyan device provides internet access almost anywhere using standard SIM cards. Compared to making a hotspot with your smartphone, the BRCK's strong antenna results in faster signals and wider ranges. It's a lifesaver when your iPhone places you in a signal dead zone.
- Headphone splitter. This crucial device prevents those lonely days in the field when you and your collaborator can't simultaneously listen to the same audio. Our first reporting trip for Rough Translation took us to Brazil, and our producer Jess Jiang (formerly of Planet Money) came prepared with a headphone splitter at a critical moment during field editing. It's no frills, but it makes all the difference.
- Sennheiser EW-100 wireless lavalier microphones. While radio producers tend to steer clear of wireless lavalier microphones due to battery management, RF interference, and clothing noise issues, there are times when they are essential. I've used these in interviews where it would have been impractical or dangerous to deploy a shotgun microphone, such as while giving a tour of a slum or keeping up with a fast-moving runner. The trade-off in sound quality? Worth it for those hard-to-reach moments.
That's it from me for now. If you'd like to share what's in your bag, hit us up! We're all curious about how our fellow public media folks personalize their toolkits.
- Incorporating technology into my travel essentials, I've been using a US-based phone number with a VoIP phone like MagicJack, ensuring I'm never truly disconnected.
- Now delving into data-and-cloud-computing, the BRCK device from Kenya has been a game-changer, providing internet access almost anywhere using standard SIM cards, acting as a reliable alternative to expensive satellite phones.
- To make the most of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investment opportunities, I've been considering the possible integration of Defi (Decentralized Finance) platforms in my financial portfolio for seamless, secure, and borderless transactions within the tech sector.
- My interest in Microfinance has led me to wonder about the potential of using smartphones and gadgets as a means to extend financial services to underbanked populations, especially in regions like Rwanda and Nairobi.
